U, V, W, X, A, B and C each have their exam on different days of the same week starting from Monday and ending on Sunday. No one has their exam before W. Only three persons have their exam between W and V. U has his exam on Wednesday. Only one person has an exam between X and U. C has his exam on one of the days after A but before B. C has his exam on which day of the week?

Appeared in: DSSSB October 2024

Explanation

The puzzle requires arranging seven exams (U, V, W, X, A, B, C) from Monday to Sunday based on given rules.
Initial deductions place W on Monday, V on Friday, and U on Wednesday. This leaves Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday open.
The rule 'C is after A but before B' (A → C → B) can only fit into the remaining days in one specific order: A on Tuesday, C on Saturday, and B on Sunday.
This arrangement leaves Thursday as the only available day for X. Therefore, C's exam is on Saturday.

Option A: Thursday is occupied by X. This is determined by the process of elimination after placing all other individuals according to the primary constraints of the puzzle.
Option B: Tuesday is occupied by A. This placement is necessary to satisfy the condition that A's exam must occur before C's and B's exams.
Option D: Monday is the first day of the week and is occupied by W, as the rules state no one has an exam before W.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Logical Reasoning: Scheduling Puzzle as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This type of logical puzzle tests critical thinking and the ability to synthesize multiple pieces of information, a key skill in any professional setting, including nursing, where patient data must be correctly ordered and interpreted.
The process demonstrates the importance of identifying fixed points (e.g., W is on Monday) and using them as anchors to solve the rest of the puzzle, similar to how a nurse uses a baseline vital sign to interpret subsequent changes.
What if? If the rule was 'Only two persons have their exam between W and V', this would place V on Thursday. This single change would shift the entire schedule, requiring a complete re-evaluation of the remaining placements and likely leading to a different answer.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the framework of the puzzle: seven people and seven days of the week (Monday-Sunday). A simple table or list is helpful.
Look for absolute statements that fix a person to a day. 'No one has their exam before W' fixes W to Monday. 'U has his exam on Wednesday' fixes U to Wednesday.
Use relative statements to place other people based on the fixed points. 'Three persons... between W and V' places V on Friday.
Address complex sequential constraints. The 'A after C before B' rule requires three ordered slots. Look at the remaining open days and see where this sequence fits.
Use the process of elimination for the last remaining person and day.
Finally, review the complete schedule against all rules to confirm your answer. Note that some puzzles may contain a deliberately flawed clue that cannot be satisfied; the best-fit solution is usually the correct one.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full DSSSB October 2024

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.